Collapsible boat



F. MARCOVSKY.

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT. APPLICATION mm mm. 11. 1920.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

//v VE/V TOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MARCOVSKY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duquesne, in the County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new.

and use 111 Improvements in Collapsible Boats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in collapsible boats, preferably of the canoe type, and has for its object to provide a deing, constructed and operable in the manner hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings showing one form of'embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a view of a canoe in side elevation, constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line III- III of Fig. 1; and 1 Fig. 4 is. a partial sectional detail view, showing the wall and a part of the seat member,- collapsed.

In carrying out my invention, I cut the fabric tosuitable shape so that when connected and inflated, it will expand to the erected shape of the boat or canoe, as shown in the drawings. The main walls comprlse a continuous water tight outer fabric member 2 and a similar inner member 3, these members being connected by seams 4: longitudinally of the boat from end to end. In the intervening spaces are series of indi- Vidual rubber tubes 5 closed at each end, and

each provided witha nipple valve 6 whereby to fill each with compressed air by a suitable pump. A similar keel member 7 extends along the central bottom and up around each end, terminating at the top, as at '8, and with the fabric merging nto the general covering 9 at bowand stern, suitably shaped to the usual form of an ordinary wooden canoe. By this construction I pro-.

vide a central tubular rib, of substantially the same diameter as the side tubular ribs, which forms a continuous central keel memher with extended prow and reinforcing portions at each end.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Application filed March 11, 1920. Serial No.

Patented Mar. 22,1921.

One or more seat members are provided, as shown, consistlng of a plurality of tubed cross members 10, also made of upper and lower fabr1c, with individual inflatable closed end tubes 11 each having a nipple 12 for inflation.

The inclosing fabric for the seats is connected between the tubes by seams 13 and is connected to the inner member 3 at 14 at opposite sldes, restraining them from undue expanslon and providing, when the entire canoe is inflated, a firm seat. The inflating nipples of the seat members are on their under sides, and the nipples for the longitudinal tubin forming the sides and bottom are prefera ly located beneath the seat, to avoid any risk of injury.

When deflated, the entire device may be very compactly folded and packed into a comparatively small space. When inflated,

' the canoe becomes quite rigid and will results, all of the tubes should be tight and infiated to substantially the same degree.

' The number of the tubes, their arrangement, and various other features of the invention, may be variously changed or modified by the skilled mechanic, but all suchchanges are to be considered as'within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible boat composed of a continuous outer and inner wall of suitable fabric having series off-longitudinal connecting seams joining the outer and inner walls with intervening longitudinal tube cavities, and individual inflatable closed end tubes incased therein providing side rib members each having an air supply valved nipple, and a similar continuous individual keel member extending centrally lengthwise along the bottom and upwardly around and over the ends, and spaced beyond the sides and ends of adjacent side rib members by'intervening seams connectin the outer and inner wall portions. 2. A co lapsible boat composed of a-continuous outer and inner wall of suitable fabric having series of longitudinal connecting seams joining the outer and inner walls with intervening longitudinal tube cavities, and individual inflatable closed end tubes incased therein providing side rib members each having an air supply valved nipple, a similar central keel member, and a connecting cross seat member formed of similarly seamed and Spaced fabric joined with the fabric of the-lnner wall unmedlately between adjacent cavities thereof and containing a plurality of inflatable inner tube members eachprovided with an air supply valve nipple. a

3. In a collapsible boat of the class described, the combination of continuous outer and inner walls of suitable fabric shaped to provide bottom and side portions converging toward each end, series of longitudinal seams directly connecting the fabric and providing tube receiving cavities from near one end of the boat to the other and seamed around their ends a central similarly seamed keel cavity extending at each end upwardly around the ends of the longitudinal cavities and reversed inwardly to provide prow portions,with the fabric merging thereinto in approximation of canoe form, a connecting cross seat member formed of s1m1larly seamed and spaced fabric JOIIlGd with the fabric of the inner wall between adjacent tube cavities thereof, and inflatable inner tube members contained in said several cavities each provided with an air supply valved nipple.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

FRANK MARCOVSKY. 

